Claus Fasting (29 October 1746 – 25 December 1791) was a Norwegian playwright, literary critic, editor and civil servant. Among his literary works were the song ''Harmonisang'' (1769) and his journals ''Provinzialsamlinger'' (1791).

Biography

Claus Frederik Fasting was born in

Bergen Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway. The municipality covers and is on the peninsula o ...

, Norway. He was the only child of Fredrik Fasting (1718-69) who was vicar at

Nykirken Nykirken (literally: "The new church") is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Bergen Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the Nordnes area of the city of Bergen. It is one of the churches for the Bergen Cathedral paris ...

and his wife, Gerhardina von Güllich (1715-70). He studied at the

University of Copenhagen The University of Copenhagen ( da, Københavns Universitet, KU) is a prestigious public university, public research university in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in ...

where he received his philosophical and theological degree in 1766. In 1768 he returned to Bergen, where his father died the following year. In 1770, his mother died and he returned to Copenhagen. In 1772, he co-founded The

Norwegian Society The Norwegian Society (''Norske Selskab'') was a literary society for Norwegian students in Copenhagen active from 1772 to 1813. Its members included authors, poets and philosophers. The Norwegian Society was formed in 1772 by Ove Gjerløw Meyer ...

(''Norske Selskab''), a literary society for Norwegian students in Copenhagen. He published the prize-winning play ''Hermine'' in 1772, a metrical tragedy and in 1773 he delivered the play as a participant in a competition announced by the

Royal Danish Theatre The Royal Danish Theatre (RDT, Danish: ') is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first s ...

. From 1773, he was co-editor of ''Kritisk Journal'' and from 1775-76 ''Kritisk Tilskuer'' delivering critical reviews to both magazines. In 1777, Fasting traveled home to Bergen, where he lived the rest of his life. During the years 1778-1781, he published a literary magazine called ''Provinzialblade''. In 1783, he became an alderman and from 1787 he served as city manager in Bergen. He died in Bergen during 1791. His personal collection of books were first used as a local lending library. In 1826, by royal decree the book collection was transferred to

Bergen Cathedral School Bergen Cathedral School ( Norwegian: ''Bergen Katedralskole'', Latin: ''Schola Cathedralis Bergensis'', formerly known as Bergens lærdeskole and Bergen latinskole and colloquially known as Katten) is an upper secondary school in Bergen, Norway. Lo ...

. Today these volumes are preserved at the Library of the

University of Bergen The University of Bergen ( no, Universitetet i Bergen, ) is a research-intensive state university located in Bergen, Norway. As of 2019, the university has over 4,000 employees and 18,000 students. It was established by an act of parliament in 194 ...

. Today a bust of Fasting, made by

Ambrosia Tønnesen Ambrosia Tønnesen (28 January 1859 – 21 January 1948) was a Norwegian sculptor. She is regarded as the first professional female sculptor in Norway, and is best known for her many portraits, including statues, busts, and reliefs. Personal l ...

in 1924, stands outside Bergen Public Library.

Fasting Minde

Towards the end of the 1780s, Claus Fasting developed a manor house. It was situated in the neighborhood of

Møhlenpris Møhlenpris (formerly Vestre Sydnes) is a neighbourhood in the city of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway. It is next to the Puddefjorden in the borough of Bergenhus. The neighbourhood is named after Jørgen Thor Møhlen, who was a shipowner, slav ...

on land previously developed by his great-grandfather

Jørgen Thormøhlen Jørgen Thormøhlen ( – 25 December 1708) was a German-born Norwegian merchant, shipowner, slave trader and industrialist. Biography Thormøhlen was born in the Duchy of Holstein, at that time a hereditary possession of the King of Denmar ...

, a merchant, shipowner, slave trader, industrialist and entrepreneur. After the death of Fasting, the property had various owners and was once used as the Bergen mental hospital. Since 1968, the manor has belonged to the University of Bergen.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fasting, Claus 1746 births 1791 deaths Writers from Bergen People educated at the Bergen Cathedral School University of Copenhagen alumni Civil servants from Bergen Norwegian male writers 18th-century Norwegian writers Norwegian magazine editors Norwegian dramatists and playwrights